Science in controversial stem cell papers may be sound

SLOPPY and irresponsible. This was how Haruko Obokata, the lead author on two controversial stem cell papers, was described by the head of her institute last week. However, one co-author cautions that the controversy doesn't mean that the science is unsound.

The interim findings were announced last week. The committee found that colour manipulation of some images in the papers didn't constitute fabrication. They also accept the authors' explanation that a duplicated image was included by accident. They are still investigating allegations of doctored figures and plagiarism.

Some of the co-authors would like to retract the papers. But Charles Vacanti at Harvard Medical School says he prefers to wait for the final outcome of the investigation. "The findings are too significant to disregard based on relatively minor errors," he says. Instead, he believes the most appropriate course of action is to post the team's exact methods online. "This should enable others to replicate our findings," he says. "I believe, over time, the science will speak for itself."

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